HOOKS. 43 



In the former, and in most others, the point, 

 in my opinion, lies too close to the shank. Al- 

 though that is no objection for other fishing, yet 

 for salmon, whose mouths (especially towards the 

 end of the autumn), are very large, and rather 

 open at the sides, and at all times too denuded 

 of tough flesh for the angler's security, there is 

 a better chance of fixing the hook, the greater in 

 moderation the width is between the shank and 

 the point. This width must not be produced by 

 merely bending out the point, for thereby too 

 much stress is thrown upon that part, or the bend 

 itself; but by giving a greater curvature in the 

 shank, especially towards the turn, O'Shaughnessy 

 and Sell have avoided the fault; and the part 

 of their shape between the turn and the point, 

 is nearly parallel with the upper end of the 

 shank, to which the wing feathers are tied. There 

 being nothing angular in any part of the bend, 

 which is otherwise in the common Limerick, the 

 strain comes on the shank a little lower down 

 towards the turn, than immediately opposite the 

 point itself, which part is made thicker and more 

 substantial than the rest of the hook, in order 

 to meet it ; while that portion on which you dress 

 the fly (because there is there less strain, and, if 

 broken, it is all held together by the gut which 

 is whipped below) is thinner than in other hooks, 

 and they are consequently no heavier altogether. 



